← Back to jobs
Northrop Grumman logo

AP - Principal/Sr. Principal Systems Engineer - 17451

Posted 22 hours agoAerospace Engineering

Compensation

$108,800–$163,200/year

Ready to Apply?

This will take you to Northrop Grumman's application page

Apply on Northrop Grumman

Job Description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret

TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time

Description

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

Join Northrop Grumman on our continued mission to push the boundaries of possible across land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace. Enjoy a culture where your voice is valued and start contributing to our team of passionate professionals providing real-life solutions to our world’s biggest challenges. We take pride in creating purposeful work and allowing our employees to grow and achieve their goals every day by Defining Possible. With our competitive pay and comprehensive benefits, we have the right opportunities to fit your life and launch your career today.

Northrop Grumman Defense Systems is seeking a Principal/Sr. Principal Systems Engineer. This opening is in Huntsville, AL and will support Advanced Programs.

What you will get to do:

  • Provide technical contributions to a growing Advanced Programs SLCM-N team for conceptual and preliminary design and technology maturation of new advanced concepts for future deterrence needs in the areas of cruise missiles and support systems/subsystems.
  • Support development of design concepts for launcher capsule and provide technical oversight for avionics and airframe design, with an emphasis on manufacturability, producibility, and minimizing impacts to Navy operations.
  • Contribute to trade studies, architecture development, and system engineering, including producibility and affordability design influence, to produce credible conceptual and preliminary weapon system designs that meet potential customers' performance, cost, schedule, and risk thresholds while informing them of the surrounding design space for capability considerations, especially capability versus life cycle and cost versus technical availability date.
  • Contribute to identification, assessment, and tracking of technology roadmap and associated existing or developing support system capability gaps to feed technology development and conceptual design process.
  • Lead development of technical proposal volumes, including system architecture descriptions, CONOPS, risk assessments, and technical baseline definition for a TMRR-phase program
  • Support creation of compliant, compelling responses to RFP/RFS requirements.
  • Demonstrate a commitment to ethics and integrity, and the capability to innovate while challenging traditional ways of doing business.
  • Operate in an advanced design environment and collaborate across the Division and Suppliers as required to accomplish the team goals.
  • Conceptualize and mature new business for growth of the Division.
  • Transition innovative solutions, technologies, and advanced concepts for US strategic deterrence interests to programs of record for product development and fielding.

Basic Qualifications:  

  • Must be a US Citizen with an active DoD Secret Clearance with an investigation date within the last 6 years.
  • Principal Engineer: 5 years’ experience with a bachelor’s degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) discipline; 3 years’ experience with master’s degree or 1 years with PhD
  • Senior Principal Engineer: 8 years’ experience with a bachelor’s degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) discipline; 6 years’ experience with master’s degree or 4 years with PhD

Required for both roles:

  • 6 months - 1 year of experience with DoD weapon system support system conceptual and preliminary design, particularly related to design analysis cycles, cost versus capability trade studies, and multi-design discipline integration
  • 6 months - 1 year of experience with ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and/or weapon support system design

Preferred Qualifications:  

  • Active U.S. Government DoD Top Secret security clearance at time of application, current and within scope.
  • Operational experience with Navy Strategic Weapons Facilities.
  • Experience with Navy Programs and submarine operations
  • Experience with digital design, model based engineering, and modeling and simulation tools and processes
  • Experience with nuclear hardened strategic systems
  • Experience with Directed Trade Studies

As a full-time employee of Northrop Grumman Defense Systems, you are eligible for our robust benefits package including:

  • Medical, Dental & Vision coverage
  • 401k
  • Educational Assistance
  • Life Insurance
  • Employee Assistance Programs & Work/Life Solutions
  • Paid Time Off
  • Health & Wellness Resources
  • Employee Discounts

This position's standard work schedule is a 9/80. The 9/80 schedule allows employees who work a nine-hour day Monday through Thursday to take every other Friday off.

Primary Level Salary Range: $108,800.00 - $163,200.00

Secondary Level Salary Range: $135,800.00 - $203,600.00

The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.

Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.

The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.

Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.
🎯

Optimize Your Resume for This Job

Get a match score and see exactly which keywords you're missing

📊 Optimize Resume

Job Details

Category
Aerospace Engineering
Employment Type
Full time
Location
ALHU12, United States
Posted
Jan 18, 2026, 07:00 PM
Listed
Jan 19, 2026, 02:26 PM
Compensation
$108,800 - $163,200 per year

About Northrop Grumman

Part of the growing space industry ecosystem pushing humanity toward interplanetary exploration.

Found this role interesting?

Shipping like we're funded. We're not. No affiliation.

Sequoia logo
Y Combinator logo
Founders Fund logo
a16z logo